Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity

Hosted by George Sirois

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Episodes

390

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Inspired by the international bestselling young adult / science-fiction novel Excelsior, this weekly interview show puts the spotlight on both up-and-coming and established creative talents who share their journey to success.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

November 4, 202648 min

From the Big Screen to Bookstores and Beyond: The Journey of Author Seth Panitch

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author / playwright / screenwriter / professor Seth Panitch. As a lover of writing most of his life, his plays "Damnit, Shakespeare!," "Hell: Paradise Found," and more were produced Off-Broadway, his films "Service to Man" and "The Coming" are currently available for viewing on various digital streaming platforms, and he made the next step in his writing evolution when he became a novelist. His debut "Antique" is now available in bookstores everywhere. And he's been doing all of this while serving as a Professor of Theatre and director of the MFA Acting Program at the University of Alabama. Learn more about Seth by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

October 27, 202628 min

A Journey in Writing from Childhood to Conventions with Dr Jeremiah MacRoberts

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with Dr Jeremiah MacRoberts for an in-person conversation at the premiere fan-run convention in the Midwest: ArchonSTL. Since childhood, Jeremiah has been a lover of writing, and he has spent decades building and honing his craft until he was ready to release his stories out into the world. Now that he has released nearly 20 different titles, he took his experience and his life lessons to Archon 49 this October. Learn more about Jeremiah by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

October 20, 202631 min

Discussing Science-Fiction You Can Enjoy at ArchonSTL with Author Ray Tabler

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author Ray Tabler for an in-person conversation at the premiere fan-run convention in the Midwest: ArchonSTL. A lover of writing and science-fiction storytelling all his life, Ray started publishing his own short stories and - after retiring from engineering - transitioned into being a novelist. With a simple but effective tagline - "Science-Fiction you can enjoy" - Ray has tapped into a supportive fleet of readers who want stories taking them on fun and entertaining rides. Learn more about Ray by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

October 13, 202637 min

Author & Art Historian Rick Sorenson Brings a New Perspective to Art and Christianity

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author & art historian Rick Sorenson. As the son of a pastor who has had a lifelong interest in art, Rick has taught classes about unleashing your creativity and has advised churches with art programs. And with his book "Art: The Church's Response," Rick presents a very interesting perspective on art's relationship with Christianity. Learn more about Rick by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

October 6, 202647 min

Author and Motivation Specialist Lorie Kleiner Eckert is Ready to Get You "Chai on Life"

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with autor & motivation specialist Lorie Klener Eckert. As someone who has been in the industry for the past 30 years, Lorie has helped countless amounts of people to keep themselves inspired and moving forward toward their goal. Learn more about Lorie by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

September 29, 202637 min

Author and Editor Riley Ringer Wants You to Celebrate Your Wins!

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author & editor Riley Ringer. From being featured in Intrepid Times to editing various poetry books and different anthologies to sharing her own voice and perspective on her Instagram and Substack pages, Riley continues to put the spotlight on other voices without sacrificing her own. Subscribe to Riley's Substack page by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

September 22, 202638 min

Author & E-Commerce Shop Owner Kira Hartley Klinger is Never Stopping, and You Shouldn't Either!

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author & e-commerce store owner Kira Hartley Klinger. After being forced to take a brand new course in life, Kira tried novel writing, but didn't find her audience until after she discovered eBay and decided to try buying and selling for profit anything that she could find. This led to Kira taking that audience and pivoting back into writing, where her success truly blossomed because she had an audience at the ready and she knew she could write for them! Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

September 15, 202648 min

Author Laura Van Wormer's Decades-long Journey in Storytelling

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois sits down with author Laura Van Wormer. Laura's journey goes way back to childhood when she would come up with stories to entertain herself and her mother. That love would lead her to joining the editorial team at Doubleday, where she would oversee behind-the-scenes books for Dynasty, Dallas, and Knots Landing, three of the most popular late-night dramas of the 1980s. But Laura's true passion was in writing, and she would transition from editing to writing novels with her debut "Riverside Drive." During this episode, Laura shares much more about her creative path and the sudden serious accident that led her to reinvent herself as a storyteller in a completely different medium. Learn more about Laura by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

September 8, 202615 min

Opening Season 13 with "The Lost Episode"

On this week's episode of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, host & producer George Sirois was supposed to bring you the first episode of the podcast with a live audience. Unfortunately, due to technical difficulties, that audio... does not exist. In its place, I hope you enjoy this look back at the day this episode was recorded and how author & entrepreneur Bob Baker, author & St Louis Writers Guild historian Brad R Cook, and actress / filmmaker Audra Angelique helped make a very special Season 13 premiere episode. NOTE: Please follow the show's Facebook Page . The "bootleg video" of the Season 13 premiere episode will be uploaded soon. Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .

August 25, 20261 hr 17 min

40th Anniversary Re-Release: "Til All Are One!" - The Legacy of TransFormers: The Movie

Five years ago, producer & host George Sirois released a five-part miniseries on this show, celebrating the 35th anniversary of TransFormers: The Movie. This week on Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, George has re-launched the fifth and final part of the miniseries to celebrate the 40th anniversary and upcoming re-release of the film. "'Til All Are One" features Mark Maher and Evan Brooks, two designers so inspired by the 1986 film that they would grow up to work on some of the most intricate and detailed figures in the entire TransFormers toy line: Hasbro's Studio Series. PRODUCER'S NOTE: In addition to a very spirited and fun conversation with Mark and Evan, there are some final thoughts about the film from music composer Vince DiCola, story consultant Flint Dille, and screenwriter Ron Friedman (RIP Ron). It has been a true joy revisiting these conversations, and I hope you had as much listening to them as I did. We're going to take one week off, and then we'll be back the day after Labor Day with a very special Season 13 premiere of Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity, which was recorded in front of a live audience for the very first time and features three different guests. Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity exists primarily as a platform for creatives of all kinds (authors, filmmakers, stand-up comics, musicians, voice artists, painters, podcasters, etc) to share their journeys to personal success. It is very important to celebrate those voices as much as possible to not only provide encouragement to up-and-coming talent, but to say thank you to the established men & women for inspiring the current generation of artists. If you agree that the Excelsior Journeys podcast serves a positive purpose and would like to show your appreciation, you can give back to the show by clicking HERE . Excelsior Journeys: The Road to Creativity is now a proud member of the Podmatch Podcast Network, and you can access all shows in the network by clicking HERE .